Cartographical Survey: Atlas of Australian resources, Third Series. Vol. 1 & Vol. 2

Summary

The third series of the Atlas of Australian Resources marks a change from separate map sheets to bound volumes. This review covers Vol. 1: Soils and Land Use and Vol. 2: Population. Vol. 1 simplifies the national soil classification, emphasising inherent properties that constrain land use by farmers and engineers, and includes a land-use map with grazing densities and crop symbols. Vol. 2 maps population distribution at national and city scales, population change between 1971 and 1976, and the overseas-born population, revealing continuing drift from rural to urban areas and outward movement from city centres. The reviewer judges the scope, balance, cartography, and non-specialist text to be excellent, and hopes that future editions will appear and be revised more quickly.